Kjersti Fløgstad takes over as Executive Director

Photo: Ingvill Bryn Rambøl / Nobel Peace Center

Kjersti Fløgstad takes up her post as Executive Director of the Nobel Peace Center this week. “I’m looking forward to working with the world’s most important prize,” she says.

PublishedFeb 4, 2020
AuthorIngvill Bryn Rambøl
Nobel Peace Center

The Nobel Peace Prize is the world’s most important and prestigious award. I’m extremely pleased to be taking up the task of spreading knowledge of and enthusiasm for the Peace Prize. We Norwegians should be very proud to host this important award. It’s something I think helps to define us,” says the Nobel Peace Center’s new Executive Director.

Kjersti Fløgstad joins the Nobel Peace Center from DNB, where she worked with corporate social responsibility linked to the bank’s sustainability and diversity programmes. From 2000 to 2011, she was executive director at UNICEF Norway. From 2012 to 2018, when she joined DNB, Fløgstad worked as a business consultant and advisor, focusing on sustainability and corporate social responsibility. Over the years, she has also served on a number of boards, including a four-year stint as chair of the aid organisation Care Norway.

In 2020, it is ten years until the UN Sustainable Development Goals are supposed to have been met. These goals, which are intended to create a more sustainable, fair and peaceful world, will influence the Nobel Peace Center’s activities throughout the year. Fløgstad sees great potential in working closely with business and civil society to generate greater engagement in relation to both the Sustainable Development Goals and the Nobel Peace Prize.

"Peace is something we must strive for every single day."
- Kjersti Fløgstad, Executive Director at the Nobel Peace Center

“Working to promote equality and protect the climate is also working for peace,” she says. “Wars and conflicts are seldom started by women, but they and their children suffer the most as a result of them, and their voices are listened to and used far too little in conflict resolution processes and peace negotiations. I’m pleased to be helping to shine a light on the role of women in war and conflict resolution this year, in particular, since the UN is commemorating the 20th anniversary of Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security.”

At the same time, Fløgstad points out, we will also be celebrating the 75th anniversary of the end of the war in Europe and the occupation of Norway. “It’s important to remind ourselves of the consequences of war and remember that peace is not the natural state of society, or something that can be taken for granted. Peace is something we must strive for every single day,” she says.

Kjersti Fløgstad replaces Liv Tørres, who stepped down as executive director at the end of 2019.